Books in the Profiles in Popular Music series

The first book in English to explore Brazilian choro.

Since the 1960s, British progressive rock band Jethro Tull has pushed the technical and compositional boundaries of rock music by infusing its musical output with traditions drawn from classical, folk, jazz, and world music. The release of Thick as a Brick (1972) and A Passion Play (1973) won the group legions of new followers and topped the Billboard charts in the United States, among the most unusual albums ever to do so. Tim Smolko explores the large-scale form, expansive instrumentation, and complex arrangements that characterize these two albums, each composed of one continuous song. Featuring insights from Ian Anderson and in-depth musical analysis, Smolko discusses the band's influence on popular culture and why many consider Thick as a Brick and A Passion Play to be two of the greatest concept albums in rock history.

Explores the allure of Cash's contradictory persona

Canadian progressive rock band Rush was the voice of the suburban middle class. This book assesses the band's impact on popular music and its legacy for legions of fans. It explores the ways in which Rush's critique of suburban life - and its strategies for escape - reflected middle-class aspirations and anxieties.

Searching for the disappearing subject in Kid A and Amnesiac

Jocelyn R. Neal is Associate Professor in the Department of Music at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She lives in Durham, North Carolina.